Dispensing container



1 April 20," 1943. 1 R. c. sHlPlLEY 2,316,979

DISPENS ING CONTAINER Y Filed Aug. l, 1942 -5' INVENTOR. l Robe/AZ Gef/@Mey Patented Apr. 20, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSING CONTAINER Robert C. Shipley, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Application 'August 1, 1942, Serial No. 453,216

(Cl. 20G-1.5)

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in dispensing containers.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a dispensing container well adapted for cigarettes and the like which automatically opens when in upright position and automatically closes when inverted, the closing taking place at such stage of the reverse movement as to prevent spilling of the contents.

Second, to provide a dispensing container` which when in inverted position has the lid or closure thereof entirely concealed.

Third, to provide a dispensing container having these advantages which may be embodied in highly attractive casings for desk, table or smokers' stand use.

Further objects pertaining to details and economies of the invention will denitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is deiined inthe claims.

A container embodying the features of the invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an inverted perspective view partially broken away of a dispensing container embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view with the container in upright position, cigarettes being indicated therein. I

Fig. 3 is a vertical central longitudinal section with the container in upright position.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section partially in section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and partially in broken section to show details of the hinging of the lid.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section corresponding Vto that of Fig. 3 with the container in inverted position.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the lid actuating weight.

'I'he embodiment of my invention illustrated consists of a receptacle comprising outer side walls I, I end walls 2, 2 and bottom 3 xedlysecured together as by gluing. These walls, however, may be eectitvely molded of plastic material. In this embodiment I provide inner or liner walls 4, 4 and 5, 5 which are disposed within the outer walls with their upper edges of the outer walls forming a continuous inner ledge 6. The inner side walls have vertical grooves l thereinreceiving the ends of the transverse par tition 8. This partition provides a front article compartment 9 and a rear compartment I0 in which the operating mechanism is positioned.

The transverse partition l has spaced vertical strips II secured to the rear side thereof. These strips or pieces I I constitute supports for the piv-I ot I2 of the lid i3 and also guide members for the weight I4, the side and rear walls constituting further guide members for supporting the Weight for free sliding movement. The weight I4 of the embodiment illustrated is formed of wood with metal inserts I5, see Fig. 4. 'I'he lid is provided with a downwardly oifset arm I6 receiving the pivot pin I2 and longitudinally slotted at I'I to engagefthe pin Il extending between the spaced lugs I9 on the weight. The arm I6 extends between these lugs with its slot in engagement with the pin Il as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

A cover is provided for the rear compartment arranged on the upper edges of the inner wall members to complement the lid I3 which closes upon the upper edges of the wall members,

the pivot point for the lid being offset from-4 the plane of the lid so that the lid and the cover section lie in the same plane when the container is closed.'

The weight I4 is freely slidable and acts to open the lid when the'container is in upright position and to close it when the container is in inverted position. It is necessary, however, to close the lid during the tilting or turning of the container from upright to inverted position in order to prevent the contents from falling out. This I accomplish by means of a coiled spring 2l arranged on apost 22 projecting upwardly from the bottom of the receptacle and received in-a bore 23 provided therefor in the Weight. This spring is of sucient tension to sustain the weight when the receptacle is in upright position whereby the .weight acts to open the lid when in such position. When in inverted position `the spring supplements the weight. The spring is of sufilcient tension to shift the weight toward cover closing position when the receptacle is turned from its upright position to an approximately horizontal position, and this results m the closing of the lid when the container is in such position, thereby preventing the escape of the contents.

When the container is of substantial size in proportion to the articles dispensed, the dispensing compartment 9 is provided with intersecting partitions 24 and 25 providing a plurality of cells 26 adapted to receive the articles dispensed sucn as cigarettes indicated at 2l. Thus arranged, relatively slim elongated articles such as cigarettes are effectively retained and are supported in position for convenient grasping.

In a dispensing container of the'dimensions illustrated articles such as cigarettes would not stand upright when the number was reduced without these partitions, and some of them might slideout into the path of the closing lid before it was completely closed.

I have illustrated and described an embodii and inner side and end walls, the inner side and end walls being arranged with their upper edges below the top of Athe outer side and end walls, opposite inner walls having vertical grooves therein. a. partition member slidably engaged in said grooves and providing front and rearcompartments, said partition member having pivot supporting members on its rear side, a lid pivotally `mounted on said pivot supporting members to closeupon the upper edges of said inner walls and having a downwardly oiset rearwardly projecting longitudinally slotted arm, a weight having a bore opening at the bottom thereof disposed in said rear compartment and slidably supported by the side and end walls and by said pivot members, said weight being provided with a'ipin engaging said slot in said arm, a top for said rear-compartment arranged on the upper edges of said inner walls to complement said lid when.it is in closed position, a post extending upwardly from the bottom of said receptacle intosaid bore in said weight, a spring on'said post acting o n said weight, said spring ybeing of insufiicient tension to sustain the weight when the receptacle is in upright position whereby the weight acts to open the lid when in such position and closes it when the receptacle is in :inverted position, the spring being of sufiicient tension to shift the weight .toward cover closing position when the receptacle is turned .from its upright position to an approximately horizontal positionl and partition members arranged in said front compartment to provide a plurality of cells adapted to receive elongated articles endwise therein, the cells being of such dimensions as to permit the tilting of the articles arranged therein.

2. In a dispensing container, the combination with a receptacle comprising a bottom and outer and inner side and end walls, the inner side and end walls being arranged with their upper edges below the top of the outer side and end walls, opposite inner walls having vertical grooves therein, a partition member slidably engaged in said grooves and providing front and rear compartments, said partition member having pivot supporting members on its rear side, a lid pivotally mounted on said pivot supporting members to close upon the upper edges of said inner walls and having a downwardly offset rearwardly projecting longitudinally slotted arm, a weight having a bore opening at the bottom thereof disposed vin sa'd rear compartment and slidably supported by the side and end walls and'by said pivot members, said weight being provided4 with a pin engaging said slot in said arm, a top for said rear compartment arranged on the upper edges of said inner walls to complement said lid when it is in closed position, a post extending upwardly from the bottom of said receptacle into said bore in said weight, and a spring `on said post acting on said weight, said spring being of insuiiiclent tension to sustain the weight when the receptacle is in upright position whereby the weight acts to open the lid when in such position and closes it when the receptacle is in inverted position, the spring being of sufficient tension to shift vthe weight toward cover closing position when the receptacle is turned from its upright position to an approximately horizontal position.

3. In a dispensing container, the combination with a receptacle open at the top, a partition providing front' and rear cmpartments, a lid for said front compartment pivotally mounted at therear of said partition and having a down- Wardly offset rearwardly projecting longitudinally slottedarm, a weight having a bore opening at the bottom thereof disposed in said rear compartment and slidably supported by the side and end wallsand by said pivot members, said weight being provided with a pin engaging said slot in said arm, a top for said rear compartment complementing said lid when it is in closed position, apost extending upwardly from the bottom of said receptacle into said bore'in said weight,.a spring on said post acting on said weight, said spring'being of insuflicient-tension to sustain the weight when the receptacle ls in upright position whereby the weight acts to open the lid when in such position and closes it when the receptacle is in inverted position, the spring being cf sufficient tension to shift the weight toward cover closing position when the receptacle is turned from its upright position to an approximately horizontal position, and partition members arranged in said front compartment to provide a plurality of cells adapted to receive elongated articles endwise therein, the cells being of such dimensions as to permit the tilting of the articles arranged therein.

- 4. In a dispensing container, the combination with a receptacle open at the top, a partition providing front and rear compartments, a lid for said front compartment pivotally mounted at the rear of said partition and having a downwardly oiset rearwardly projecting longitudinally slotted arm, a weight having afbore opening at the bottom thereof disposed in said rear compartment and slidably supported by the side and end walls and by said pivot members, said weight being provided `with a pin'engaging said slot in said arm, a top for said rear compartment complementing said lid when it is in closed position, a. post extending upwardly from the bottom of said receptacle into said bore in said weight, and a spring on said post acting on said weight, said spring being of insuficient tension to sustain the weight when thereceptacle is in upright position l whereby the weight acts to open the lid when in from its upright position to an approximately g horizontal position.

5. In a dispensing container, the combination with a receptacle open at the top, a partition providing front and rear compartments, a lid for said front compartment pivotally mounted in said rear compartment, -a weight .slidably-dis#l posed in said rear compartment and operatively connected to said lid, a post in said rear compartment, a spring on said post acting on said weight, said spring being of insufiicient tension to sustain the weight when the receptacle is in upright position whereby the weight acts to open the 1id,when in such position and closes it when the receptacle is in inverted position, the spring beingof suiiicient tension to shiftthe weight to- Ward cover closing position when the receptacle is turned from its upright position to an approximately horizontal position, and partition members arranged in said front compartment to provide a plurality of cells adapted to receive elongated articles endwise therein, the cells being of such dimensions as to permit the tilting of the articles arranged therein.

6. In a dispensing container, the combination cells adapted to receive elongated articles endwise thereof, the cells being of such transverse dimension as to limit the tilting of the articles arranged therein.

9. In a dispensing container, a receptacle open at the top, a lid pivotally mounted Within said with a receptacle open at the top, a partition providing front and rear compartments, a lid for said rear compartment and operatively connected to said lid, a post in said rear compartment, and a spring on said post acting on said weight. said spring being of insufficient tension fto sustain the Weight when the receptacle is in upright Position whereby the weight acts to open the lid when in such position and closes it when the receptacle is in inverted position, the spring being of sufcient tension to shift the weight toward cover closing position when the receptacle is turned from its upright position to an approximately horizontal position. f

7. In a dispensing container, a receptacle open at the top, a lid pivotally'mounted within said receptacle to lie within the upper edges thereof when closed, said lid having a rearwardly projecting slotted arm, a weight slidably supported within said receptacle and having a pin engaging said slotted arm, said weight acting to open said lid when the receptacle is in upright position and to close it when the receptacle is inverted, and a spring acting on said weight to urge it to lid closing position, the spring being of insuiiicient tension to sustain the weight in cover closing position when the receptacle is in upright position but of suiiicienttension to shift the weight toward cover closing position when the receptacle is substantially tilted from its upright position.

8. In a dispensing container, a receptacle open at the top, a lid pivotally mounted within said receptacle to lie within the upper edges thereof when closed, said lid having a rearwardly projecting slotted arm, a weight slidably supported within said receptacle and having a pin engaging said slotted arm, said weight acting to open said lid when the receptacle is in upright position and to close it when the receptacle is inverted, and a spring acting on said weight to urge it to lid closing position, the spring being of insuiiicient tension to sustain the weight in cover'closing position when the receptacle is turned from upright position to an approximately horizontal position. said receptacle being provided with a plurality of receptacle to lie within the upper edges thereof when closed, said lid having a rearwardly projecting slotted arm, a weight slidably supported within said receptacle and having a pin engaging said slotted arm, said weight acting .to open said lid when the receptacle is in upright position and to close it when the receptacle is inverted, and a spring acting on said weight to urge it to lid closing position, the spring being of insuiiicient tension to sustain the weight in cover closing position when the receptacle is turned from upright position to an approximately horizontal position.

l0.v In a dispensing container, a receptacle open at the top, a lid pivotally mounted within said receptacle to lie Within the upper edges thereof when closed, a weight slidably supported within said receptacle and operatively connected to said lid, said weight acting to open said lid when the receptacle is in upright position and to close it when the receptacle is inverted, and a spring acting on said weight to urge it to lid closing position, the spring being of insufficient tension to sustain the weight in cover. closing position when the receptacle is in upright position but of suiiicient tension to shift the weight toward cover closing position when the receptacle is substantially tilted from its upright position.

11. In a dispensing container, a receptacle open at the top, a lid pivotally mounted within said receptacle to lie within the upper edges thereof when closed, a weight slidably' supported within said receptacle and operatively connected to said lid, said weight acting to open said lid when the receptacle is in upright position and to close it when the receptacle is inverted, and' aspring acting on said weight to urge it to lid closing position, the spring being of insuicient tension to sustain the weight in cover closing position when the receptacle is turned from upright position to an approximately horizontal position, said receptacle being provided with a plurality of cells adapted tov receive elongated articles endwise thereof, the cells being of such transverse dimension as to limit the tilting of the articles arranged therein.

12. In a dispensing container, a receptacle open at the top, a lid pivotally mounted within said receptacle to lie within the upper edges thereof when closed, a weight slidably supported within said receptacle and operatively connected to said lid. said weight acting to open said lid when the receptacle is in upright position and to close it when the receptacle is inverted, and a spring act- ROBERT C. SHIPLEY. 

